Middle East Studies

• Frame questions and situate core texts and ideas in their appropriate intellectual, social, material and cultural contexts.
• Analyze and critique texts, ideas and materials produced in or pertaining to the Middle East from the rise of Islam to the present.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the diversity of Middle Eastern experiences through time and space, including an understanding of the interactions between the Middle East and other cultures, peoples, empires, economies and states.
• Situate the Middle East in global flows of ideas, material cultures, technologies, and political, economic and social forms.
• Understand how such global flows have shaped the Middle East and how the Middle East has influenced global movements of people, ideas and material forms across time and space.
• Think critically, speak and write critically about the ways in which the interdisciplinary field of Middle East studies contributes to, broadens and challenges important theoretical, methodological, analytic and conceptual approaches applied to the study of the Middle East in the humanities and social sciences.
• Apply knowledge of the Middle East to contemporary issues as informed and engaged citizens.
• Attain beginning competency in a Middle Eastern language.

Requirements

11 courses (a minimum of 41 credits) are needed to satisfy the requirements of a major in Middle East studies and to meet the following distribution requirements.

1. Basis

MES 100: Introduction to Middle East Studies (1 credit).

2. Language

At least two years of language study in Modern Standard Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi, Turkish or another approved Middle Eastern language.  Please refer to Additional Guidelines, below for further information on language requirements.

3. Concentration

Four courses in an area of concentration, which may focus on the religion, history, politics, cultures (literature, film, music, art) of the Middle East, or may explore an interdisciplinary topic such as gender in the Middle East, ethno-religious diversity of the region, etc. Students design a concentration in consultation with an adviser. One course in an area of concentration may include a capstone seminar (16 credits).

4. Electives

Four elective courses, of which at least three must be in areas other than the student’s concentration. Advanced study of a Middle Eastern language may count toward the elective courses (16 credits).

5. Capstone Seminar

An upper-level capstone (300 level seminar, or research-based special studies MES 400) is required of all majors. The capstone may be in an area of concentration or an elective course. The capstone is counted toward either the concentration or elective course requirements.

Additional Guidelines

1. All courses taken for major credit shall be drawn from courses listed or cross-listed by the Program in Middle Eastern Studies. Any First-Year Seminar cross-listed in MES may count toward the major.

2. Students will take at least one course with a primary focus on the Middle East beyond the Arab world (Iran, Israel, Turkey) in the fulfillment of major requirements.

3. Courses in the major may not be taken S/U, except courses taken in the Spring 2020 term..

4. Capstone: Majors must take one 300-level seminar or research-based MES 400 special studies course in their field of concentration. When MES 400 functions as the capstone for the major it must be a research-intensive course approved as the capstone by the major adviser.

5. No more than four courses in the major may be applied toward a double major.

6. Language study beyond the requirements of the major in Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi, or Turkish at Smith or within the Five Colleges is strongly encouraged. Students may apply to the Middle East Studies Committee for funding of summer language study (e, g., Arabic, Farsi, Hebrew, Turkish). In addition, courses in Arabic dialects offered by any of the Five Colleges or by the Five College Center for the Study of World Languages may be applied toward the major, with approval of the student’s adviser. If a course offered by the FCCSWL is worth less than 4 credits, students will be expected to make up the credit shortfall through supplemental language instruction. Participation in study abroad programs offering intensive language instruction may count toward the MES major language requirement on approval of the student’s adviser.

7.  Students proficient in Modern Standard Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi or Turkish may take a placement exam in lieu of coursework. Students who place out of the MES major language requirement are expected to make up 8 credits of coursework through electives or the study of a second, approved regional language. 

8. Normally, at least half of a student’s courses towards the major shall be taken at Smith. Students who study abroad may petition the Program in Middle East Studies should they seek credit toward the major of non-Smith courses that exceed half of those required by the major.

The Middle East studies minor at Smith provides students with the opportunity to complement a major with a concentration of courses that treat the region in its historical, political, social and cultural complexity. The minor provides the opportunity to study the region in an interdisciplinary fashion, with attention to key fields of knowledge.

Requirements

Six courses or a minimum of 24 credits are required.

Language (1 course)

Completion of at least one year of Modern Standard Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi, Turkish or another approved Middle Eastern language.  Additional language study of Arabic and Hebrew at the intermediate and advanced levels at Smith or within the Five College Consortium is strongly encouraged. Students may petition the MES Committee to substitute the minimum requirement of a year of Arabic or Hebrew with the study of another Middle Eastern language (Farsi, Turkish, etc).

Breadth Requirements (2 courses)

1. A course on classical Islam or pre-modern (prior to 1800) Middle Eastern history, broadly defined. (Courses do not necessarily have to be offerings from the history department, but must be historically oriented.)  
2. A course on modern history, contemporary politics/economics/cultures/sociology/anthropology or modern/contemporary Islamic thought.

Electives (3 courses)

In consultation with their adviser, students may choose additional electives in religion, literature, arts and/or history and the social sciences. 
 
Students who wish to conduct independent research may approach an adviser for permission to enroll in MES 400 (Special Studies). MES 400 is a research-intensive course, available only to qualified juniors and seniors, and would serve as one of the electives.
 
Apart from language classes, no more than two courses may be taken from the same department or program. And normally no more than two courses can be taken away from Smith.

The minor in Arabic is designed for students wishing to achieve proficiency in modern Arabic.

Requirements

Six semester courses in Arabic, or a minimum of 24 credits are required.

Students must complete the equivalent of a full year of both Intermediate Arabic and Advanced Arabic.

Special studies in Arabic may count for as many as two of the six courses, so long as each of the special studies is worth 4 credits.

Courses in Arabic dialects offered by any of the Five Colleges or by the Five College Center for the Study of World Languages count toward the minor. If a course offered by the FCCSWL is worth less than 4 credits, students will have to make up the credit shortfall elsewhere.

Courses taught in English do not count toward the minor in Arabic.

Students are encouraged to fulfill some of the requirements toward the minor in an Arabic-speaking country, either during a semester or summer of study abroad. Courses taken outside Smith College or the Five College Arabic Program in Arabic language or in Arabic in any discipline must be approved by the head of the Arabic program at Smith (and by the student’s adviser).

Students are also encouraged to take a course in Arabic that focuses on a topic or issue. Such courses, which may consist of a special studies, might include Media Arabic, Arabic literature, Arabic translation, Arabic linguistics (syntax, semantics, pragmatics, discourse analysis), aspects of Arabic culture, film, religions, or philosophy.

Director: Prof. Susanna Ferguson

The honors program consists of a yearlong intensive research project typically resulting in a thesis. The core of the program is a thesis paper, a complete draft of which is due on the first day of the second semester. Students will spend the spring semester revising their papers and will submit the final version by April 1.  The deadline for submitting honors proposals for the 2023-24 academic year is April 12, 2023.

Eligibility Requirements

Students who have at least a 3.3 grade-point average (GPA) in courses outside of the major and 3.5 GPA in courses within the Middle East Studies major are eligible for the honors program.

Students must have successfully completed six courses in their major prior to being accepted to the honors program; under normal circumstances, these six courses will have been completed in the Middle East Studies Program at Smith College.

 Students must complete the application form and receive departmental approval to be admitted to the honors program.

On the application form, students will be asked to identify three courses taken that are related to their specific honors project.

How to Apply

See the class deans website about applying for departmental honors. Please review the departmental honors webpage for information about general guidelines for students considering an honors thesis. In order to begin the application process, the student will need to request a Calculation of GPA form by emailing honors@smith.edu. A personalized listing of all courses and grades that are eligible for calculation will be sent as a PDF by email to enable the student to determine the grade point averages both inside and outside the major. The student should also identify an advisor for the honors thesis from the MES and affiliated faculty.

Eligible students are encouraged to apply in the spring of their junior year, but fall applications are allowed as long as they are received before the end of the first week of classes. January graduates are on a different schedule.

Students may register for departmental honors when choosing courses in April if their applications have been approved. The spring deadline to submit completed applications, with departmental endorsement, is the last day of final exams. Applications to enter the departmental honors program from current second-semester juniors will be considered only after the grades for this current semester have been calculated into the GPAs.

First-semester seniors must submit completed applications, with departmental endorsement, no later than the end of the first week of classes in the fall semester.

Requirements to Fulfill the Honors Program

Students admitted to the honors program will register for a yearlong, 8-credit honors course (MES 430D, 4 credits in the fall and 4 credits in the spring).

Students in honors must successfully complete all the requirements for the major in Middle East Studies. The two semesters of MES 430D may be counted as two courses toward the 11 courses required for honors students.

Students in honors are expected to participate in Collaborations by making a public presentation of their thesis.

Oral Examination

Following submission of the final paper, students will take an oral examination administered by two members of the Middle East Studies faculty. This exam will be based on the thesis and on the field in which it was written. The field is defined by the student themselves, who at the time of the exam will identify three courses which they believe bear upon the topic of the thesis.

Honors Project Description

An honors applicant must submit to the Middle East Studies Program a thesis proposal consisting of 500 to 1,000 words (two to four pages). Typically, the proposal is submitted during the spring semester of a student’s junior year. Specific deadlines will be posted on the MES website. The proposal should contain the following information:

• a description of the broader scholarly issue to be investigated;

• the specific question or hypothesis to be treated;

• an explanation of the approach to be taken and evidence of experience using this approach;

• documentation of relevant background, preparation, special facility or skills necessary to undertake the proposed thesis (e.g., previous course work related to the thesis topic, quantitative skills, foreign language ability, etc.).

Fall Semester 2023

Note: This listing is not official.  For the official list of course offerings for this semester, consult the schedule in Workday, or the online course search.

ARA 100 Elementary Arabic I
John O. Weinert
2 Sections:
100-01: MWF 8:00-9:15;
100-02: MWF 9:25-10:40

ARA 200 Intermediate Arabic I
May George
MWF 10:50-12:05

ARA 300 Advanced Arabic I
May George
MWF 9:25-10:40

MES 208 Introduction to the History of the Modern Middle East
Susanna Ferguson
TTh 1:20-2:35

MES 213 Colloquium: Sex and Power in the Modern Middle East
Susanna Ferguson
TTh 10:50-12:05

MES 240 Colloquium: Encounters with Unjust Authority: Political Fiction of the Arab World
Steven Heydemann
TTh 9:25-10:40

MES 290 Colloquium: Islam and Capitalism
Sohaib Khan
TTh 2:45-4:00

Cross listed courses

FRN 230 Topics in French Studies - Banlieue Lit
Mehammed Mack
M 3:05-4:20; W 2:45-4:00

GOV 248 Arab-Israeli Dispute 
Bozena C. Welborne
MW 10:50-12:05

HST 224 History of the Middle Ages
Joshua Birk
MWF 10:50-12:05

JUD 101 Elementary Modern Hebrew I
Joanna Caravita
MWF 9:25-10:40

REL 145 Introduction to the Islamic Traditions
Suleiman Ali Mourad
TTh 9:25-10:40

REL 305 Seminar: Muslim World and the Crusades
Suleiman Ali Mourad
F 9:25-12:05

SPN 250 Sex and the Medieval City
Ibtissam Bouachrine
TTh 1:20-2:35

Spring Semester 2023 (Spring 2024 TBD)  

Note: This listing is not official.  For the official list of course offerings for this semester, consult the schedule in Workday, or the online course search.

ARA 101 Elementary Arabic II
Two sections: M. Hassan; J. Weinert
M 3:05; WF 2:45-4:00; MWF 8:00-9:15

ARA 201 Intermediate Arabic II
M. George
MWF 9:25-10:40

ARA 301 Advanced Arabic II
J. Weinert
MWF 10:50-12:05

ARA 401 4th Year Arabic II
M. George
MWF 10:50-12:05

MES 230 Society and Development in the Middle East
S. Heydemann
TTh 9:25-10:40

MES 225 Egypt: Mother of the World
A. Giordani
TTh 10:50-12:05

MES 380 Authoritarianism in the Arab World
Steven Heydemann
TTh 1:20-4:00

MES 322 Arab Revolutions
A. Giordani
TTh 1:20-4:00

Cross listed courses

ANT 214 Anthropology of Displacement, Migration and Transnationalism
C. Sajadian

FRN 251 Islam de France
M. Mack

GOV 224 Globalization From an Islamic Perspective
B. Welborne

GOV 248 The Arab-Israeli Dispute
B. Welborne

HST 229  A World Before Race?
J. Birk

JUD 102 Elementary Modern Hebrew II
Joanna Caravita

REL 110 Topics in Thematic Studies in Religion: The Holy Land 
S. Mourad

REL 246 Muslims, Modernity and Islam
S. Mourad

ARA 100 Elementary Arabic I
This course introduces the basics of Modern Standard Arabic in addition to brief exposures to one of the Arabic dialects. It is aligned with the American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency guidelines. Following ACTFL proficiency standards, students should be at the Novice-Mid level by the end of this course. The course begins with a focus on reading, pronouncing and recognizing Arabic alphabet and progresses quickly toward developing beginner reading, writing, speaking and listening proficiencies as well as cultural competence. It covers vocabulary for everyday use, and essential communicative skills relating to real-life and task-oriented situations (queries about personal well-being, family, work, and telling the time). Students will acquire vocabulary and usage for everyday interactions as well as skills that will allow them to read and analyze a range of texts at the Novice level. In addition to the traditional textbook exercises from AlKitaab series, students will write short paragraphs and participate in role plays, presentations and conversations throughout the year. No pre-requisites for this course. Cap 18 students. Credits: 5 
Normally offered each fall 

ARA 101 Elementary Arabic II
This is a continuation of First-Year Arabic I. Students will complete the study of the Elementary Arabic AlKitaab book series along with additional instructional materials. Following ACTFL proficiency standards, students should be at the Intermediate-Low level by the end of this course. Emphasis will be on the integrated development of all language skills —reading, writing, listening and speaking—using a communicative-oriented, proficiency-based approach. By the end of this semester, students will acquire vocabulary, grammatical knowledge, and language skills necessary for everyday interactions as well as skills that will allow them to communicate with a limited working proficiency in a variety of situations, read and write about a variety of factual material and familiar topics in non-technical prose. In addition to the textbook exercises, students will write short essays, do oral and video presentations and participate in role plays, discussions, and conversations throughout the semester in addition to extra-curricular activities. Cap 18 students. Prerequisites: Arabic 100 or equivalent. {F} Credits: 5 
Normally offered each spring

ARA 200 Intermediate Arabic I 
According to the ACTFL standards, this course is Intermediate Low Arabic. It covers the four skills of the language. Writers at the intermediate level are characterized by the ability to meet practical writing needs, such as simple messages and letters, requests for information, and notes. In addition, they can ask and respond to simple questions in writing. At the intermediate level, listeners can understand information conveyed in simple, sentence-length speech on familiar or everyday topics while readers at the same level can understand information conveyed in simple, predictable, loosely connected texts. Readers rely heavily on contextual clues. They can most easily understand information if the format of the text is familiar, such as in a weather report or a social announcement. Speakers at the intermediate level are distinguished primarily by their ability to create with the language when talking about familiar topics related to their daily life. They are able to recombine learned material in order to express personal meaning. Students should expect text assignments as well as work with DVDs, audio materials and websites. Exercises include writing, social interactions, role plays, and the interplay of language and culture. Prerequisite is ARA 101 or the equivalent. {F} Credits: 4 
Normally offered each fall 

ARA 201 Intermediate Arabic II 
A continuation of ARA 200. We complete the study of the Al Kitaab II book sequence along with additional instructional materials. In this course, we continue perfecting knowledge of Arabic integrating the four skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing, using a communicative-oriented, proficiency-based approach. By the end of this semester, you should have sufficient comprehension in Arabic to understand most routine social demands and most nontechnical real-life conversations as well as some discussions on concrete topics related to particular interests and special fields of competence in a general professional proficiency level. You gain a broad enough vocabulary that enables you to read within a normal range of speed with almost complete comprehension a variety of authentic prose material and be able to write about similar topics. Also by the end of this semester, you should have a wide range of communicative language ability including grammatical knowledge, discourse knowledge and sociolinguistic knowledge of the Arabic language. You should expect text assignments as well as work with DVDs, audio and video materials and websites. Exercises and activities include essay writing, social interactions, role plays and in-class conversations, oral and video presentations that cover the interplay of language and culture, extracurricular activities and a final project. Prerequisite: Arabic 201 or permission of the instructor. {F} Credits: 4 
Normally offered each spring 

ARA 300 Advanced Arabic I 
This helps students achieve an advanced level of proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic with an exposure to one Arabic colloquial variety using the four-skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening) approach. Students read within a normal range of speed, listen to, discuss and respond in writing to authentic texts by writers from across the Arab world. Text types address a range of political, social, religious and literary themes and represent a range of genres, styles and periods. All of these texts may include hypothesis, argumentation and supported opinions that covers both linguistic and cultural knowledge. This course covers Al-Kitaab, Book 3, units 1–5 in addition to extra instructional materials. Prerequisite: ARA 202, or the completion of Al-Kitaab, Book 2, or its equivalent. Students must be able to use formal spoken Arabic as the medium of communication in the classroom. {F} Credits: 4 
Normally offered each fall 

ARA 301 Advanced Arabic II
This course helps students reach advanced proficiency in Arabic through language study and content work focused on Arab history, literature and current events. We continue to focus on developing truly active control of a large vocabulary through communicative activities. Grammatical work focuses on complex grammatical constructions and demands increased accuracy in understanding and producing complex structures in extended discourse. Preparation for class and active, cooperative participation in group activities are essential to students’ progress in this course. Requirements also include active participation in class, weekly essays, occasional exams and presentations and a final written exam. This course covers Al-Kitaab, Book 3, units 5–10 in addition to extra instructional materials. Prerequisite: ARA 301, or the completion of Al-Kitaab, Book 3, lessons 1–5, or the equivalent. Students must be able to use formal spoken Arabic as the medium of communication in the classroom. {F} Credits: 4 
Normally offered each spring 

JUD 101 Elementary Modern Hebrew I 
The first half of a two-semester sequence introducing modern Hebrew language and culture, with a focus on equal development of the four language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Learning is amplified by use of online resources (YouTube, Facebook newspapers) and examples from Hebrew song and television/film. No previous knowledge of modern Hebrew is necessary. Enrollment limited to 18. Credits: 5 
Normally offered each fall 

JUD 102 Elementary Modern Hebrew II 
The second half of a two-semester sequence introducing modern Hebrew language and culture, with a focus on equal development of the four language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. By the end of the year, students are able to comprehend short and adapted literary and journalistic texts, describe themselves and their environment, and express their thoughts and opinions. Learning is amplified by use of online resources (YouTube, Facebook newspapers) and examples from Hebrew song and television/film. Prerequisite: JUD 101 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to 18. {F} Credits: 5 
Normally offered each spring 

The Program in Jewish Studies at Smith College partners with the Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies at the University of Massachusetts to offer Smith students a full complement of courses to bring them to advanced proficiency in modern Hebrew. Normally, students who have completed JUD-102 at Smith College will enter UMASS Hebrew 230 in the fall and follow it with Hebrew 240 in the spring. Smith students will not have to travel to UMASS if they enroll in this course. They will be able to participate in the class through videoconference at Smith. For more information on the Hebrew program, or if you have a question about language placement please contact Joanna Caravita.

Advanced study in Hebrew is offered at UMass or through Special Studies at Smith.  
Please consult the website of the Program in Jewish Studies for a full list of summer Hebrew language programs. 

MES 100 Introduction to Middle East Studies 
This 8-week course of weekly lectures will provide students with a comprehensive overview of the Middle East by focusing on the big questions that animate the teaching and research of faculty in Middle East Studies and related fields. Graded S/U. Credits: 1 
Normally offered each fall 

MES 203 Introduction to Middle East Comparative Politics 
This lecture class provides an introduction to the comparative politics of the Middle East. Readings, lectures, and discussions will examine political environments in the Middle East, with a focus on states as units of analysis, and on the general processes and conditions that have shaped state formation, the formation of national markets, and state-society relations in the region. The course will equip students to understand and critically assess how political interests are organized; the development of major political, social, and economic structures and institutions; and sources of political contestation within Middle Eastern societies. {S} Credits: 4 

MES 208 Introduction to the History of the Modern Middle East 
Same as HST 208. This course examines the history of the modern Middle East from a global perspective. How have gender, economy, ecology, and religion shaped Middle Eastern empires and nation-states within a broader world? The course begins with transformations in Egypt, Iran, and the Ottoman Empire between 1800 and World War I. Next, it turns to experiences of colonialism, the rise of independent nation-states, and the birth of new political movements. Overall, we will work to appreciate the diversity of the region’s cultures, languages, and peoples and to critically assess how the Middle East has been imagined from without and within. {H} Credits: 4

MES 213 ​Sex and Power in the Middle East 
This course invites students to explore how sexuality has been central to power and resistance in the Middle East. When and how have empires, colonial powers, and nation states tried to regulate intimacy, sex, love, and reproduction? How have sexual practices shaped social life, and how have perceptions of these practices changed over time? The course introduces theoretical tools for the history of sexuality and explores how contests over sexuality, reproduction, and the body shaped empires, colonial states, and nationalist projects. Finally, we examine contemporary debates about sexuality as a basis for political mobilization in the Middle East today. {H}{S} Credits: 4

MES 217 ​International Relations and Regional Order in the Middle East 
The focus of this lecture course will be on the dynamics of inter-state relations in the broader Middle East (encompassing Turkey, Israel, and Iran). It will provide a brief introduction to relevant theoretical frameworks that have been used to explain the international and regional relations of the Middle East. It then applies these theoretical frameworks through in-depth attention to a wide range of themes and cases. In addition to readings on specific cases, the course will cover the origins and development of the Arab state system, alliance dynamics, the effects of oil on international relations, war and international relations, and the domestic sources of Middle East international relations. {S} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years

MES 220 The Arab Spring 
Explores the social, economic and political causes and effects of the mass protest movements that came to be known as the Arab Spring or the Arab Uprisings. Through a wide range of readings, documentaries, media accounts, social media content, and other materials we dissect the most significant, and still unresolved, political transformations in the Middle East in the last 100 years. A previous course in Middle Eastern politics, history or culture recommended, but not required. Credits: 4 
Normally offered in alternate years 

MES 230 Society and Development in the Middle East 
This course focuses on the political economy of the Arab Middle East with emphasis on the social dimensions of economic development. It provides students with insight into the effects of shifting economic and social policies and economic conditions on the peoples of the Middle East and the social transformations that have accompanied post-colonial processes of state- and market-building. It explores how economic conditions shaped political activism, social movements, modes of protest, and broader patterns of state-society relations. Students will become familiar with theories of economic and social development and major analytic frameworks that are used to assess and make sense of society and development in the Middle East. (E) {S} Credits: 4 
Normally offered in alternate years 

MES 235 Perspectives on the Arab-Israeli Conflict 
Same as JUD 235. Explores key issues in the political, social and cultural history of Zionism and the State of Israel, as examined through a specific topic of current interest. Discussions over controversies in historiography may be amplified by exploring a series of turning-points in the conflict and the quest for peace, and the ways in which public memory is consistently reshaped through film, museums, and/or literary texts that challenge existing historical narratives. No prerequisites. Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

MES 240 Encounters with Unjust Authority: Political Fiction of the Arab World 
This colloquium will expose students to contemporary political literature of the Arab world in translation. Through their critical engagement with this literature, students will gain a nuanced, tangible, and deeply dimensional understanding of contemporary life in the Middle East and the many diverse and complex ways in which lives of the region’s peoples are shaped by their political circumstances. Enrollment limit of 20. {L} {S} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

MES 380 Seminar: Authoritarianism in the Middle East 
This upper-level seminar focuses on the durability of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and North Africa. The course examines the emergence of authoritarian regimes in the Arab world; their consolidation into full-fledged systems of rule; patterns and variation in authoritarian governance among Arab states; the political economy of authoritarianism; state-society relations under authoritarian rule; and authoritarian responses to democratization, economic globalization and pressures for political reform. Prior course work on the history, politics, sociology, anthropology of the modern Middle East is useful. (E) {S} Credits: 4 
Normally offered in alternate years

ARH 228 Islamic Art and Architecture 
This course surveys Islamic visual art and architecture from the spread of Islam in the seventh-century until the present day, covering the Dome of the Rock and Persian miniatures to French Orientalism and Arab Spring graffiti. Attention is focused upon the relationships between Islamic visual idioms and localized religious, political and socioeconomic circumstances. In particular, lectures and readings examine the vital roles played by theology, royal patronage, gift exchange, trade and workshop practices in the formulation of visual traditions. Direct analysis of Islamic artworks at the Smith museum expand students’ command of critical visual analysis. Group A, Group B {A} {H} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

ARH 280 Art Historical Studies 
Topics course. (Students may take up to four semesters of ARH 280 Art Historical Studies, as long as the topics are different). 
Age of Imperial Encounter: 19th-Century Art of the Middle East 
The 19th-century Middle East witnessed a flourishing of strange and hybrid architecture and visual culture that blended local traditions with global trends. As local empires waned, European forces spread new models of elite culture. How did art of the 19th-century Middle East respond to shifts in political, social and cultural power? How do we define hybridity in art and can we break it free from Orientalist paradigms? Students acquire knowledge of 19th-century Islamic art and history, develop skills of critical looking, and gain an advanced vocabulary to evaluate visual culture under colonialism. Group B {A} {H} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

FRN 230 Colloquium in French Studies 
Topics course. (A gateway to more advanced courses. These colloquia develop skills in expository writing and critical thinking in French. Materials include novels, films, essays and cultural documents. Students may receive credit for only one section of 230. Enrollment limited to 18. Basis for the major. Prerequisite: 220 or permission of the instructor). 
“Banlieue Lit” 
In this course, students study fiction, memoir, slam poetry and hip-hop authored by residents of France’s multi-ethnic suburbs and housing projects, also known as the banlieues and cités. We examine the question of whether banlieue authors can escape various pressures: to become native informants; to write realistic rather than fantastical novels; to leave the “ghetto”; to denounce the sometimes difficult traditions, religions, neighborhoods and family members that have challenged but also molded them. Often seen as spaces of regression and decay, the banlieues nevertheless produce vibrant cultural expressions that beg the question: Is the banlieue a mere suburb of French cultural life, or more like one of its centers? {F} {L} Credits: 4 
Normally offered each academic year 

FYS 157 Syria Beyond the Headlines 
Syria today is at the center of turmoil that is remaking the Middle East and challenging global security. Civil war, violent extremism, sectarian polarization and the globalization of terrorism have devastated the country, leading to mass population displacement and the most severe humanitarian crisis since WWII. By exploring the historical origins and the current trajectory of Syria’s revolution in 2011 and its collapse into violent conflict, the seminar provides critical insight into the forces that are defining the future of Syria and the Middle East. Enrollment limited to 16 first-year students. WI {S} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

FYS 186 Israel: Texts and Contexts 
What is the role of the writer in constructing a nation's founding myths and interpreting its present realities? How do literature and film about Zionism and Israel navigate and interpret tensions between sacred and secular; exile and homeland; language and identity; indigenous and colonial; war and peace? Intended for students with an interest in the relationships between history, politics, and narrative. Enrollment limited to 16 first-year students. WI Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

GOV 224 Colloquium: Globalization From an Islamic Perspective 
This course introduces students to the diversity of political and economic challenges and opportunities facing the Muslim world in a globalizing context. We cover a range of contemporary topics from the legacies of colonialism, evolving human security issues, and the emergence of Islamist politics to the popularity of Islamic banking and commerce, as well as changing gender roles. Enrollment limited to 20. Credits: 4 
Normally offered in alternate years 

GOV 231 Colloquium: Women's Social Movements in the Middle East 
This course explores how women’s movements emerge and sustain themselves in different global contexts with a special focus on women’s movements in the Middle East. Beginning with a brief overview of the status of women globally, the class then shifts to an investigation of how the women’s movement evolved in the U.S. and ends with a comparison of the political strategies of secular and Islamic feminists in modern-day Egypt. The course covers issues affecting women’s lives that range from securing the vote, gaining recognition as full persons and gaining reproductive rights. It looks at issues of religious freedom to inquire into how women, especially in the Middle East, negotiate a world of both contemporary and traditional religious and secular values. Students leave this course with a fuller appreciation of the variety of issues around which women mobilize as well as an understanding of the diverse strategies they adopt to meet their chosen goals.{S} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
 
GOV 248 The Arab-Israeli Dispute 
This course investigates the causes and effects of the Arab-Israeli disputes of the past and present as well as the viability of efforts to resolve them. We consider the influence of Great Power Politics on the relationship between Arab states and Israel, and between Palestinian Arabs and Israelis. Our exploration of the conflict touches on issues related to human security, terrorism and political violence as well as broader questions of human rights, national identity and international governance. {S} Credits: 4 
Normally offered in alternate years 

GOV 326 Seminar in Comparative Politics 
Topics course. 
The Middle East and North Africa 
This course serves as an overview of major themes in political science research pertaining to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), while exploring the politics of individual countries from a comparative perspective. We investigate topics concerned with regime type and existing political institutions, political ideology and social movements, economic development, and civil-military relations. Assigned literature considers the interdisciplinary exchange of ideas on the contemporary MENA through a political, economic, and sociological lens, while explaining both regional trends and intra-regional variation. {S} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

GOV 341 Seminar in International Politics 
Topics course. 
The Middle East in World Affairs 
This course considers the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through an international relations lens, exploring how the region broadly interacts with the rest of the world. It introduces students to the diversity of challenges facing the region and gives students the tools for a more substantive analysis of its ever-changing context. The class is divided into two sections: the first section represents a general overview of the most salient issues in the region including the Arab-Israeli conflict, while the second section incorporates case-study explorations of specific topics ranging from U.S. foreign policy in the MENA to the Arab Spring. {S} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

GOV 347 Seminar in International Politics and Comparative Politics 
Topics course. 
North Africa in the International System 
This seminar examines the history and political economy of Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya,focusing on the post-independence era. Where relevant, Egypt and Mauritania will be treated. The seminar sets Maghrebi (North Africa) politics in the broader context of its regional situation within the Mediterranean (Europe and the Middle East), as well as its relationship to sub-Saharan Africa and North America. Study is devoted to: (1) the independence struggle; (2) the colonial legacy; (3) contemporary political economy; and (4) post-colonial politics and society. Special attention will be devoted to the politics of Islam, the “status” of women and political change. {S} Credits: 4 
Normally offered each fall 

HST 208 (L) Introduction to the History of the Modern Middle East 
Same as MES 208.  This course examines the history of the modern Middle East from a global perspective. How have gender, economy, ecology, and religion shaped Middle Eastern empires and nation-states within a broader world? The course begins with transformations in Egypt, Iran, and the Ottoman Empire between 1800 and World War I. Next, it turns to experiences of colonialism, the rise of independent nation-states, and the birth of new political movements. Overall, we will work to appreciate the diversity of the region’s cultures, languages, and peoples and to critically assess how the Middle East has been imagined from without and within.  {H} Credits: 4 
Normally offered each academic year 

HST 209 (C) Aspects of Middle Eastern History 
Topics course. 
Women, Gender and Power in the Middle East 
This course analyses the development of gender discourses and the lived experiences of women throughout the history of the region. The topics covered include the politics of marriage, divorce and reproduction; women’s political and economic participation; questions of masculinity; sexuality; the impact of Islamist movements; power dynamics within households; and historical questions around the female body. It provides an introduction to the main themes and offers a nuanced historical understanding of approaches to the study of gender in the region. Credits: 4 
Normally offered each academic year 

HST 227 (C) Aspects of Medieval European History 
Topics course. 
Crusade and Jihad: Religious Violence in the Islamo-Christian Tradition 
This course juxtaposes the medieval understanding of religious violence and war in the Western Christian and Islamic traditions with modern understandings of those same phenomena. It traces the intellectual development of these concepts during the Middle Ages, and how medieval conceptions of violence are reinterpreted and redeployed in the 19th through 21st centuries. Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

HST 229 (C)  A World Before Race?: Ethnicity, Culture and Difference in the Middle Ages 
Twenty-first century scholars argue that race is a constructed social identity that began to coalesce around the seventeenth century. But were they right? In this course, we will look to the Middle Ages to challenge the consensus that racial constructions were a byproduct of modernity. Does race function differently between the world of Latin Christendom and that of the dar al-Islam? What are the advantages and dangers of using the prism of race to analyze ethnic, cultural and religious differences in this medieval period? What does studying race in the Middle Ages teach us about contemporary conceptions of race? Enrollment limit of 18. {H} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

JUD 200 Intermediate Modern Hebrew 
Continuation of JUD 100y. Emphasizes skills necessary for proficiency in reading, writing and conversational Hebrew. Transitions from simple Hebrew to more colloquial and literary forms of language. Elaborates and presents new grammatical concepts and vocabulary, through texts about Israeli popular culture and everyday life, newspapers, films, music and readings from Hebrew short stories and poetry. Prerequisite: one year of college Hebrew or equivalent or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 18. Offered at Smith in alternate years. {F} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

JUD 210 Jewish Studies in the Field 
Enables students to focus on the intersection of Jewish Studies and a topic of regional, national, or global concern through intensive field study. Instructor permission only. (E) 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

JUD 288 History of Israel 
Israel, from the pre-state origins of Zionism in the late 19th century to the present. Analysis of ongoing challenges, with special attention to competing identities, the place of religion in civil life, political conflict, and traditions of critical self-reflection. Interpretation of Israeli political and cultural history through discussion of primary sources and documentary film. {H} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

JUD 362 Seminar in Jewish Studies 
Topics course. 
The Middle East Peace Process 
What has prevented a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?  Is it solvable, or can it only be managed?  Teams of students investigate key issues at the heart of the conflict (borders, sovereignty, security, settlements, Jerusalem, refugees, competing historical claims) in order to create position papers and a framework for an international conference.  Students scrutinize the various state, regional, and international players to evaluate the status quo, variations on the two-state solution, and alternative models critically.  A previous course in Middle Eastern history or politics such as Gov 248 or MES 235 is recommended.  Includes meetings with outside experts.  Limited to 12 students. {L} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 
 
MUS 220 Topics in World Music 
Topics course. 
Popular Music of the Islamic World 
Music is a thorny issue in many Islamic societies. There is often tension between hardliners who believe that music has no place in Islam and thus try to prohibit it and those who tolerate it, albeit within well-defined parameters. The debate intensifies in the case of popular music. Despite this, there is an incredible variety of vibrant popular music traditions throughout the Islamic world. In this course, we engage with Islamic debates on popular music, explore music in a variety of cultures (e.g., Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Senegal and Turkey), and examine the ways they illuminate different themes (forms of Islam, issues of diaspora, gender considerations, musical diversity, etc.). No prerequisites, though MUS 101 is helpful. {A} {S} Credits: 4 
Normally offered in alternate years 

REL 110 Colloquia: Thematic Studies in Religion 
Topics course. 
The Holy Land 
This course examines the concept of the “Holy Land” according to the religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It explores the ways the Holy Land has been defined and sanctified in scripture and in works of art, architecture, literature, poetry and film. It also explores the ways that political rulers have tried to tap into the sanctity of the Holy Land to promote their own legitimacy. The course emphasizes the significance of the common heritage of the Holy Land, as well as how it has inspired religious and political conflict. Enrollment limited to 20. {H} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

REL 245 Introduction to the Islamic Traditions 
The Islamic religious tradition from its beginnings in seventh century Arabia through the present day, with particular emphasis on the formative period (A.D. 600–1000) and on modern efforts at reinterpretation. Topics include Muhammad and the Qur’an, prophetic tradition, sacred Law, ritual, sectarianism, mysticism, dogmatic theology and popular practices. Emphasis on the ways Muslims in different times and places have constructed and reconstructed the tradition for themselves. {H} 
Normally offered each academic year 

REL 246 Muslims, Modernity and Islam 
Major themes addressed by Muslim thinkers since the 18th century, such as Islamic reform and revival, the encounters with colonialism and imperialism, nationalism and other modern ideologies; and Islamic discussions of modernity, liberalism, conservatism, fundamentalism and militancy. Reading of primary sources in translation. {H} 
Normally offered each spring

REL 247 The Qur’an 
The Qur’an, according to the majority of Muslims, is God’s word revealed to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel over a period of 22 years (610–632 C.E.). This course introduces students to Islam’s scriptural text: its content, form, structure and history. It also situates the Qur’an in the larger frame of the genre of Scripture: What does it mean for a text to be revealed? Study of the Qur’an as a seventh-century product, as well as the history of reception of this text. Analysis of its varying impact on the formulation of Islamic salvation history, law and legal theory, theology, ritual, intellectual trends, and art and popular culture. {H} {L} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

REL 248 Topics in Modern Islam 
Topics course. 
Jihad 
The persistence of the ideology of jihad in modern Islam drives revivalists and apologists to disagree over the meaning of “jihad” and whether it should be understood to necessitate violence or as an interpersonal spiritual struggle. This course examines the most important modern debates about Jihad and how each position engages and appeals to the foundational Islamic sources (e.g. Qur’an, Muhammad, Sharia/Islamic Law) and Islamic history for legitimacy. It also explores the factors that make the rhetoric used by modern jihadists popular among certain Muslim constituencies, inspiring them to wage holy war against “infidels” as well as fellow Muslims. Course may be repeated for credit with a different topic. Enrollment limited to 35. {H} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

REL 249 Islamic Popular Music 
Same as MUS 249. Music is a complex issue in many Islamic societies. There are tensions between those who believe music has no place in Islam and try to prohibit it, those for whom it is a central component of mystical devotion, and those who tolerate it, albeit within well-defined parameters. The debate intensifies in the case of popular music, a core part of the self-identification of young people everywhere. Despite this, there is an amazing variety of vibrant popular music throughout the Islamic world. This course will explore the religious debates over music and the rich musical tradition (including religious music) in Islam.  {A} {H} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

REL 345 Seminar: Islamic Thought 
Muslims and Shari‘a Law 
This seminar explores the complexity and history of Shari‘a Law in Islam. It examines the formation of a variety of schools of practice of Shari‘a from very early on in Islamic history until today and the way Muslim jurists have maintained the relevance of Shari‘a to their respective societies and times. It covers topics such as: the theory and application of Shari‘a, purpose of Shari‘a, sources of Shari‘a (e.g., Qur‘an, Muhammad, customs), hermeneutical tools (e.g., reason, public good, doubt), and the laws themselves. The course also discusses the interaction of Shari‘a with other legal systems, especially in the context of today where Shari‘a is restricted to a small realm (primarily family and personal law). Limited to juniors, seniors (and others by permission of the instructor). {H} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

SPN 230 Latin American and Peninsular Culture and Society 
Topics course.  May be repeated once with a different topic. 
Maghribi Jewish Women: Cordoba, Casablanca, Tel Aviv 
This course examines constructions and representations of Maghribi Jewish women from the western Mediterranean to Israel. The first part of the course focuses on Jewish women in Andalusi and Maghribi texts. Students are invited to think critically about concepts such as "tolerance," "convivencia," and "dhimma," as well as what it means to be a woman and a religious minority in Muslim-majority communities. The second half of the course examines representations and realities of Jewish women of Moroccan descent in Israeli society. This part centers on questions of immigration, class, demography, gender, diaspora and identity. Enrollment limited to 19. {F} {L} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

SPN 245 Topics in Latin American and Peninsular Studies 
Topics course. May be repeated once with a different topic.  
Jewish Women of the Muslim Mediterranean 
This course examines the experiences of Jewish women in al-Andalus and North Africa from the Middle Ages until today. Discussions focus on Jewish women’s literary and cultural contributions to predominantly Muslim societies, primarily in the western Mediterranean. Students are also invited to think critically about concepts such as “tolerance” and “dhimma,” as well as what it means to be a woman and a religious minority in mostly-Muslim countries. Course taught in Spanish. Prerequisite: SPN 220 or above, or permission of the instructor. Cannot be repeated for credit. Enrollment limited to 19. Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

SPN 250 Survey of Iberian Literatures and Society I 
Topics course. 
Sex and the Medieval City 
This course examines the medieval understanding of sex and the woman’s body within an urban context. We read medieval texts on love, medicine and women’s sexuality by Iberian and North African scholars. We investigate the ways in which medieval Iberian medical traditions have viewed women’s bodies and defined their health and illness. We also address women’s role as practitioners of medicine, and how such a role was affected by the gradual emergence of “modern” medical institutions such as the hospital and the medical profession. Prerequisite: SPN 220 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to 19. Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years 

SPN 332 Seminar: The Middle Ages Today 
Topics course.  
Islam in the West 
This transdisciplinary course examines the intimate, complex and longstanding relationship between Islam and the West in the context of the Iberian Peninsula from the Middle Ages until the present. Discussions focus on religious, historical, philosophical and political narratives about the place of Islam and Muslims in the West. Students are also invited to think critically about “convivencia,” “clash of civilizations,” “multiculturalism” and other theories that seek to make sense of the relationship between Islam and the West. Enrollment limited to 14. Permission of the instructor. Offered Spring 2018 during the 2017-18 academic year. {F} {L} Credits: 4 
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years

MES 400 Special Studies 
Admission by permission of the Program in Middle East Studies, normally for junior and senior minors in Middle East studies, and for qualified juniors and seniors from other departments. Offered both semesters each year. Credits: 1-4 
Normally offered each academic year 

MES 430D Honors Project 
Credits: 4 
Normally offered each academic year